Striker Taiwo Awoniyi has received strong support from head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who believes the player will be instrumental for Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season, despite ongoing questions regarding his future.
Nuno is “absolutely” certain that the Reds’ forward can regain his peak performance and will remain focused amid transfer rumors. However, he recognizes that Awoniyi requires more playing time to reach the high standards he has previously demonstrated, as he has mostly been limited to coming off the bench.
There are concerns about whether the Nigerian international will remain at the City Ground beyond the January transfer window, particularly with West Ham United showing interest. Nuno refrained from commenting on the rumors ahead of the upcoming match against Southampton (2pm kick-off) but emphasized his belief in Awoniyi’s ability to perform well in the Garibaldi.
When questioned about the possibility of the 27-year-old leaving in January, Nuno responded: “Taiwo came on late in the game (against Liverpool), having played very well in the previous game against Luton.
“We hope that he progresses with the fitness level because we know the talent and the quality he has. He is a goalscorer.
“He always has an impact, he always has chances. That is what you can say about Taiwo. Is there something I do not know? There are rumours?”
